Cigar-machine.



No. 817,809. PATENTED APR.17, 1906. A. SHEDLOCK.

GIGAR MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0GT.21,190&

l( 1 7 4 il 8 2 i TR /2 nnrrnn sfrafrns PATENT OFFICE,

ALFRED SHEDLOCK, JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ClGAR-NIACHINE.

Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Machines, fully described and represented in the following speci- 'fication and the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of the same.

rIhis invention relates to certain improvements in cigar-machines.

In certain classes of machines used in manufacturing cigars the bunch or filler is inclosed by the bunch-rotating devices, by the operation of whi ch the bunch or liller is rotated in Order to Wind the wrapper thereupon. In such machines as usually constructed the bunch-rotating devices are all driven at the same surface speed. Inasmuch, however, `as the bunch varies in diameter throughout its length, the different parts of the bunch are subjected to different degrees 0f torsion, so that the bunch tends to become twisted or broken. In order to avoid the objections which exist to this class of machines, it has been proposed to make-the bunch-rotating devices in the form of flexible rollers which are shaped to correspond with the bunch and are integral from end to end, and it has also been proposed to make the bunch-rotating devices in the form of groups of rollers which inclose the bunch, all the rollers of one group being driven and the rollers of the remaining groups being left free to rotate idly by friction against the bunch. The first class of these suggested machines is objectionable both on account of the initial cost of the rollers and the cost of maintaining them in operation, and the second class of the proposed machines is objectionable for the reason that they do not entirely relieve the bunch from the torsional strain.

It is the obj ect of this invention to produce a machine for placing wrappers on bunches or binders on fillers in which the bunch shall be rotated by driving devices which are arranged along the bunch, said devices being operated by driving means which give them the same surface speed as the particular part of the bunch with which they are in contact, so that the bunch is positively driven throughout its length and at the same time is not subjected to different degrees of torsional strain.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 21, 1902. Serial No. 128.120.

Patented April 17, 1906.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements, and combinations, as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of so much of a cigar-rolling machine as is necessary to an understanding of the invention. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 4 is an end view illustrating the driving-gearing.

The bunch-rotating devices may be widely varied in construction; In the machine which has been selected to illustrate the invention the bunch-rotating devices consist of groups of rolls which inclose the bunch or filler, said groups being arranged to engage different parts ofthe bunch or filler.

In the construction shown a group of rolls (marked 1, 2, and 3) surrounds and engages the tuck end of the bunch, a group of rollers (marked 4, 5, and 6) engages the center of the bunch, and groups of rollers 7 8 9 and 1() 11- 12 engage the tip end of the bunch and the part of the bunch between the tip and the center. While in the construction selected to illustrate the invention four groups of rollers are employed, it is to be understood that the number of groups may be varied as de'- l sired.

The rollers of each group may be supported in any desired manner. As shown, three shafts 13, 14, and 15 are provided for this purpose. The shaft 13 serves to support the rollers 1, 4, 7, and 10, the shaft 14 supports the rollers 2, 5, 8, and 11, and the shaft 15 supports the rollers 3, 6, 9, and 12. According to the present invention one or more rollers of each group will be driven by suitable driving means. In the machine selected to illustrate the invention only one roller of each group is driven, these driven rollers being respectively 3, 5, 9, and 10, and in the IOO rates of speed so that the rollers will turn at l two leverarms 25.

the same surface speed as the bunch or filler upon which they are operating.

Any suitable driving means for the shafts may be employed. As shown, the machine is provided with a shaft 16, said shaft being provided with a driving-pulley 17 or being driven by any other suitable means. This shaft 16 has a pinion 18 on its end which meshes with a pinion 19 on the end of the shaft 14. The pinion 19 is in mesh with a broad-faced idle gear 20, mounted on a stud 21, extending from one of the uprights of the frame. This idle gear is in mesh with a gear 22, mounted on the shaft 15, and with a gear 23 on the shaft 13. In the arrangement shown the roll 5, which is a long roll engaging the center of the bunch, where its diameter is greatest, must necessarily move at the highest rate of speed, and the roll 10, which engages the tip of the bunch, where the bunch is of least diameter, necessarily moves at the lowest rate of speed. In the construction shown the roll 3 engages the bunch at the tuck end and the roll 9 engages it at a point beyond the center where the diameter is the same as at the tuck end. These rolls, therefore, will move at the same speed and at a speed between the other two speeds referred to. The gearing is proportioned, therefore, so that the shaft 14 is driven at the highest rate of speed, the shaft 13 at the lowest, and the shaft 15 at a rate of speed intermediate between the two. The speeds are graduated according to the mean diameter of the rollers.

When, as in the machine illustrated, the rolls are arranged so as to substantially inclose the bunch, some means must necessarily be provided to permit one or more of the rolls to be moved, so that the bunch or filler may be placed in and taken out of the rolls, and the machine will also preferably be provided with an ejector mechanism which operates to automatically eject the bunch. In the construction shown the shafts 13 and 14 are mounted in stationary bearings in the standards of the machine. The shaft 15, however, is mounted in bearings 24, said bearings being carried by a lever consisting of two arms 25. One of these arms is mounted on a stud 26, supported in one of the standards of the frame, and the other is mounted on the stud 21, which supports the idle gear 20. In the construction shown the two lever-arms are connected 'by means of a web 27, which forms a chute down which the Wrapped cigars or bunches roll when the lever mechanism is operated to move the shaft 15 away from the other shafts. The ejector mechanism may be of any suitable character. As shown, it consists of a bent lever 2S, loosely mounted on the power-shaft 16, said bent lever having an ejector-head 29. The lower end of the lever 28 is connected by a link 30 to the web 27, which connects the Means are preferably providedv for automatically returning the rolls to position when the pressure is removed from the lever which operates the shaft l5 and the ector. In the machine shown springs 31 are employed for this purpose, these springs being connected to eyes formed on the bearings 24 and to any suitable stationary part of the machineas, for instance, eyes rising from the bearings of the shaft 13.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made in the construction by which the invention has been carried into effec-t. The invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described.

What is claimed is- 1. The combination with a plurality of bunch-rotating members arranged along the bunch for making contact with different longitudinal parts thereof, of :means for driving a part only of said members, some of said driven members being driven at different speeds from others of said driven members, substantially as described.

2. The combination -with a plurality of bunch-rotating members arranged. along the bunch for making contact with different longitudinal parts thereof, of means for driving a part only of said members, the remainder of the members being loosely mounted and turning by the friction of the bunch, some of said driven members being driven at differl ent speeds. from others of said driven. members, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a plurality of groups of bunch-rotating devices arranged to inclose a bunch, each group engaging a different part of the bunch, and means for driving a part only of the members of the groups, said driving means being arranged to drive said members at different speeds, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a plurality of groups of bunch-rotating devices arranged to inclose a bunch, each group engaging a different part of the bunch, of means for driving a part only of the members ofthe groups, the remainder of the members being loosely mounted and turning by frietional contact with the bunch, said. driving means being arranged to drive said driven members at different speeds, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a plurality of groups of bunch-driving rolls arranged to inclose a bunch, each group of rolls engaging a different part of the bunch, of driving means for a part only of the rolls of each group, said driving means being arranged to drive said rolls at different speeds, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a plurality of groups of bunch-driving rolls arranged to inclose a bunch, each group of rolls engaging a different part of the bunch, of driving means TOO IIO

ISO

for a part only of the rolls of each group, the remainder of the rolls being loosely mounted and arranged to turn by frictional contact with the bunch, said driving means being arranged to drive said driven rolls at different speeds, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a plurality of shafts, said shafts being arranged to support a plurality of bunch-rotating rolls arranged in groups each group inclosing different parts of the bunch and one of the rolls of each group being secured to the shaft, of means for rotatingthe shafts at different speeds, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a plurality of bunch-rotating rolls arranged to inclose a bunch, of movable bearings in which one of said rolls is mounted, a lever connected to said bearings, and an ejector connected to said lever, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a plurality of bunch-rotating rolls arranged to inclose a bunch, of movable bearings in which one of said rolls is mounted, a lever connected to said bearings said lever being arranged to provide a delivery-chute, and an ejector connected to the lever, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a plurality of bunch-rotating Vrolls arranged to inclose a bunch, of movable bearings in which one of said rolls is mounted, a lever mechanism connected to said bearings, an ejector-lever, and a connection between the two levers, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a plurality of bunch-rotating rolls arranged to inclose a bunch, of movable bearings in which one of said rolls is mounted, a lever connectedto said bearings, said lever being arranged to provide a delivery-chute, and an ejector operated from said lever, substantially as de-Y scribed.

12. The combination with a plurality of bunch-rotating rolls, of movable bearings in which one of said rolls is mounted, a twoarmed lever connected to said bearings, a chute-plate connected to the lever-arms, an ejector-lever, and connections between the chute-plate and the ejector-lever, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a plurality of groups of rolls arranged to inclose different parts of a bunch said groups consisting of smooth and roughened rolls, and means for driving a roughened roll of each group at a different speed from the roughened rolls of the other group, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a plurality of shafts, said shafts carrying groups of rolls arranged to inclose different parts of a bunch, and a roll of each group being roughened and secured to its shaft, of means for driving the shafts at dilicerent speeds, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED SHEDLOCK. Witnesses:

GEO. H. SNYDER, SYDNEY I. PREsooTT. 

